On July 19, Administrator Samantha Power began her day in Bucha, the site of some of Russia's most brutal occupation and war crimes in the early days of its war against Ukraine, to witness how the Ukrainian government and people are rebuilding from the devastation wrought by Russia's brutal invasion. In Bucha, the Administrator was able to see firsthand how the country is leveraging the groundbreaking USAID-supported e-governance tool Diia, to speed its reconstruction. With Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Digital Transformation (MDT) Mykhailo Fedorov and Bucha Mayor Anatolii Fedoruk, the Administrator visited a family whose property was damaged by Russian forces, and observed how Ukrainian citizens can enter evidence of this damage into the USAID-supported e-recovery platform on Diia. A USAID-supported Damaged and Destroyed Compensation Committee from the local authority also showed how these claims are vetted and approved in person and through the app, demonstrating how digital transformation is benefiting war-impacted Ukrainians and building towards the future. The Administrator then visited the Diia Business Center to see more of the groundbreaking e-government and e-recovery work USAID is supporting.
Administrator Power then joined First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska on a visit to a USAID-supported mental health and psycho-social support service in Irpin, another town that experienced the extreme brutality of Russia's occupation in the early days of the war. This primary healthcare rural ambulatory center showcased USAID's work on community mental health in support of the First Lady Zelenska's All-Ukrainian Mental Health Initiative, and the First Lady's groundbreaking "How are U?" mental health communications campaign. During the visit, Administrator Power highlighted USAID's support of mental health care for all the people in Ukraine.
Administrator Power then met with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to reaffirm USAID's continued strong commitment both in helping Ukraine cope with the immediate needs resulting from Russian aggression and in supporting early recovery and reconstruction. The two agreed on the importance of continuing to implement inclusive, reform-minded reconstruction, with focused attention on good governance, rule of law, and anti-corruption measures. The Administrator and Prime Minister discussed how to best collaborate to spur economic growth and support Ukrainian businesses. They discussed Ukraine's energy sector and energy reforms, including the passage of REMIT legislation in the Rada in June, a critical step towards EU integration. Administrator Power also reaffirmed USAID's commitment to investing in Ukrainian food and grain exports, particularly in light of Putin's decision to not renew Russia's participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI).
Administrator Power met with President Zelenskyy to discuss the strength of the U.S.-Ukraine partnership and his vision for Ukraine's recovery, the importance of Ukraine's ongoing reforms for its security and future prosperity, and efforts to make sure Ukraine's veterans are taken care of after fighting on the frontlines. They spoke about USAID's work to support the immediate needs of the Ukrainian people while also working alongside them to lay the foundations for a strong, prosperous and independent Ukrainian future. The two discussed how USAID can best support Ukraine's economy and specifically bolster Ukraine's small- and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs. They also discussed the ongoing partnership to support the Ukrainian agricultural sector and in particular, how the U.S. can best work to help Ukrainian farmers get their food out onto world markets after Putin's decision to withdraw from the BSGI. Administrator Power reaffirmed the United States government's commitment to standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
Administrator Power concluded the day by sitting down with Suspilne, Ukraine's national public broadcaster. and holding a press conference in St. Michaels Square to speak about her visit to Ukraine and the many ways the United States is providing development, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine to meet immediate needs and build for the future. The Administrator announced additional funding for Ukrainian businesses to help grow the economy bringing the total in new U.S. assistance announced during the visit to nearly $1 billion.
